Spelling Sensory Sink

Our kids love sensory play activities! We used an indoor sensory sink as an invitation to explore letters and work on spelling. 

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UNO Movement Game for Kids

We play outside as much as we can but lately the weather hasn't been cooperating. What is a parent or teacher to do when stuck inside with active kids who need to move? We turned the classic card game of Uno into a indoor gross motor game! 

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Active Games for Kids: Fun Gross Motor Ideas from A to Z

We all need active play ideas for kids! Whether it's to burn energy during cold or rainy days or to work on gross motor skills for indoor recess, we have a collection of activities and games to get children moving.

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Cars Play for Letter Recognition

Yesterday I needed a quick activity for both kids after lunch, but before nap time.  E wanted to play with her daddy's vintage micro machine cars, so I dug out the masking tape to make some roads for her.

I put some tape pieces on D's hands and then his feet for him to explore.  This, of course, was only done under close supervision.  

Next, we added a parking lot.  It was great fine motor practice for E to line up the cars and park them.

Then, I remembered this post from Juggling With Kids using cars to learn sight words.  I adapted it to E's level by tailoring it to what she needs to work on currently: lower case letter recognition (especially the letters that don't look the same as their uppercase counterparts).

I would say, "Can you park a pink car on the letter h?"  We practiced the letter sounds by saying them while we drove the cars to their parking space, too.  The most realistic letter sounds for this were /r/, /g/, and /z/.  The /s/ sounded like he needed to put air in his tires!

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St. Patrick's Day Sensory Bin

We made a St. Patrick's Day sensory bin!  It was one of our most favorite sensory experiences yet!

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Cake Mix Sensory Bin

We loved this sensory bin idea from Growing A Jeweled Rose: A Cake Mix Sensory Bin!

We picked strawberry for Valentine's Day. My girl loved it because it's PINK!

We added heart sprinkles for extra fun.

D was sad because he can't play yet.

Our kitchen smelled delicious!

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Play Time 2.0

Play time looks different now.

On one side, E (with lipstick on) playing in her corn sensory bin.  Nannie gave us the extra corn after she made this bin for E's friend X.  There is nothing better for a tired, un-creative momma then practically getting a sensory bin handed to you!

I added some calico corn (sorry, but I don't like the term Indiana corn) that we could pull off of the cob, tweezers, spoons, containers to scoop and pour.  We talked about sounds.  Dropping the corn back into the bin sounds like popcorn popping or rain.

This was a great afternoon of fine motor practice.

Meanwhile, D was on my other side exploring his play mat.

Life is so much better now.

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Bathtub Learning

Lately, I've been taking some time when E is not in the bathroom to clean her artwork off the tub walls.  Then I add my own art for her to find!  I did animals for pretend tub play during our farm theme.  She colored them in and fed them for several days.

We use these crayons which we got during the holidays.  They've lasted all year and wash off well:

Last night after she went to bed, I washed the animals off.  I added uppercase letters, her first and last name, shapes, and numbers.

During her bath, I asked her to find and circle letters and numbers.

After we did a few of those, she started erasing them with a wet brush, saying, "Bye bye E!  Bye bye L!"

Numbers, too!

She also erased her name, spelling it as she did so.

She loved this activity!

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Dinosaurs + Mud Play Dough

Yesterday I had a project to work on, so I dug out the mud play dough we used at our last Play & Learn Class and added E's dinosaurs.  Before I even suggested it, she was making dinosaur tracks and impressions.

To make the play dough, I used this recipe.  It has cocoa in it, so it smells amazing!  This kept E busy for even longer than it took me to finish my project!

I'm going to "dig" this back out next week and add her construction vehicles to the mix!

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Baking Soda and Colored Vinegar

Our allergies are horrible right now.  We haven't gone to any of our regular activities all week since going outside makes us feel so much worse.  And you KNOW I schedule us to frantic busyness.

Last night I was wide awake at 2 am, trying to occupy my mind with what I could do with E today.  I made a list:
- file folder games
- painting a present for Mutti's birthday
- April hand print art for Nana and Mutti
- wash the couch covers and let E jump on the couch while they are drying
- scrub the kitchen floor (hey, E likes to clean)
- experiment with baking soda and colored vinegar

I've seen this on a lot of creative blogs.  You give your kid a dish of baking soda, color vinegar with food coloring, and they use a dropper to make colored mini-fizzes in the dish.

Sorry for the lack of enthusiasm on E's part.  She doesn't feel well.  She did announce each color as I tinted the vinegar.  When she added the vinegar to the baking soda she said, "Bubbles!!!"

We all know what happens when you combine baking soda and vinegar.  But toddlers don't.  Watching her reaction made it exciting for both of us.  Plus adding in the colors let us pretend we were in a science laboratory mixing up concoctions.  She especially liked using the red vinegar because when it landed on the white baking soda, well, you know E.  "Pink!!!!"

We talked about how the dropper worked.  "Squeeze the top, then put it in the vinegar and let go!"  It was a lot easier when I asked her to completely take her hands off and watch it slowly fill with vinegar while it sat in the glass.

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Introducing Play & Learn Classes!

When we hosted our snowman play date back in January, we had so much fun.  I kept wishing our house was large enough to invite all our friends and their parents.

This lead to some brainstorming with Carol Anne Friesen.  I am so excited to announce my partnership with her!  Ever since we took E to a Baby Signs Workshop when she was 6 months old, I have been inspired by Carol Anne's passion for early childhood education and her contagious enthusiasm!  I always dreamed we would work together in some capacity.  Carol Anne has opened my eyes to how I can use my degree and certification in Early Childhood Education while still keeping my job as a stay-at-home mom as my first priority for right now.  I am so thrilled to be throwing myself into this new teaching adventure!

Introducing … Play & Learn Classes:

Explore and experience art, literacy, science, math and sensory activities with your child at our themed classes!  Enjoy watching your child’s face light up as they discover new concepts and create with their imaginations. Parents and care givers interact with their children at engaging and developmentally appropriate learning centers.  Leave the planning, preparations, and clean up to us!   

Ages: 18 months - 4 years old
Class size is limited to 12 children. Location: Palmyra, PATotal Tuition and Materials: $10 which includes art materials, parent information handout, and a one hour visit (following class) to our Stay & Play Cafe!
Currently enrolled Kindermusik students $8, all siblings 50% off!

Play & Learn Class Day and Time: Tuesday, March 13th 9:15 to 10:00
Class theme: St. Patrick’s Day/Rainbows

Play & Learn Class Day and Time: Wednesday, April 18th 9:15 to 10:00
Class theme: Earth Day

Play & Learn Class Day and Time: Tuesday, May 15th 9:15 to 10:00
Class theme: Insects

Register for 2 or more classes and take advantage of our introductory offer!  $1 off per child per class! To enroll or for more information please email me!

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